Dunfermline Athletic

Archives | Dunfermline 2 Raith Rovers 0

A goal from Barney Stewart on his starting debut and another from sub Chris Kane shifted the bragging rights to West Fife and sent the 1236 Raith fans home disappointed.

Dunfermline hoped to take advantage of their fourth consecutive home fixture with a win over their closest rivals. This was the second Fife derby of the season, but the first at KDM Group East End Park, and the sides met separated by two places and five points in the Championship table.

The international break had created difficulties for Neil Lennon in preparing for this derby match but his side included players who had played in midweek in Azerbaijan and Northern Ireland. After playing two matches in Africa, Mozambique internationalist Alfons Amade was on the bench. In his place Chris Hamilton started and captained the team while Barney Stewart was preferred to Chris Kane upfront.

Raith Rovers started Darragh O`Connor, Lewis Stevenson and Shaun Byrne as Barry Robson made three changes with Ewan Wilson and two former Pars Paul McMullan and Callum Fordyce dropping to the bench.

Rovers started Darragh O`Connor, Lewis Stevenson and Shaun Byrne as Barry Robson made three changes with Ewan Wilson and two former Pars Paul McMullan and Callum Fordyce dropping to the bench.

Both teams raised Give Racism the Red Cards ahead of the exchanges in front of the William Hill arch. It was Chris Hamilton who kicked the match off but Raith who were first into attacking mode. Andrew Tod`s challenge on Byrne handed Dylan Easton a second minute free kick that he pumped into the Pars box but Nurudeen Abdulai cleared. Dunfermline broke to create a great chance three minutes later Stewart teeing up Tod on the Rovers 18 yard line but the striker wanted too many touches and his eventual shot was blocked.

Tod had the next attempt at goal after Robbie Fraser`s long ball up the left was cleverly played into the path of Keith Bray by Stewart. The former Caley Thistle youngster squared but behind Tod and when he twisted his way into releasing a shot his left foot sent the ball wide left.

A Bray effort was held by Josh Rae albeit at the second take and next a fine Tod shot was touched around the left goalpost by the Raith keeper for a corner on the left. This setpiece would provide the opener for the Pars. Bray`s delivery from the left was headed down by Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen and STEWART reacted impressively quick to crash the ball into the roof of the net. No.19 in 19th minute made it 1-0.

The visitors responded four minutes later when Ross Matthew`s made Billy Terrell save a well struck shot at an angle from the right. At the other end Tod turned the ball back for Stewart to fire a low on-target shot that Rae held.

With ten minutes to the break Dunfermline continued to attack with confidence. Shea Kearney was deep up the right to play an inviting ball into the right side of the Raith box for Tod the keeper won the race. Tod popped another left footed effort on target but Rae plucked that one out of the October evening. A Stevenson challenge on Tod was perhaps lucky to escape a penalty decision while in added time Terrell pulled off a fine save from Easton.

Dunfermline went in at the interval with a lead and it was hoped that first goal would be crucial. The Pars had got to terms with their opponents physicality although the home fans seriously felt that their side had been unduly penalised at times for giving no more than they received.

Half Time: Dunfermline 1 Raith Rovers 0

The Kirkcaldy side came out showing more desire and in 53 minutes Scott Brown drove down the right and released a cross 18 yards out that Terrell had to tip on to his right hand post as the ball fixed in on the Pars goal. Jack Hamilton headed a Stevenson cross wide before on the hour Neil Lennon introduced Ewan Otoo for Rory Macleod.

Brown continued to try and be influential, attempting to drive his side forward but it was Dunfermline who came closest to scoring when Tod got the break of the ball to make ground into the right side of the Rovers box. O`Connor hooked the effort away and when Fraser latched on to the chance his rocket of a shot was deflected off O`Connor for a corner.

Chris Kane and Matty Todd entered the game in 69th minute with Barney Stewart and Keith Bray being withdrawn. Abdulai did well to sweep the ball away from Hamilton as he threatened in front of goal. Just seven minutes after coming on Matty Todd had a great chance to clinch it. Hamilton received the ball back from Kane and the skipper swept it into the left side of the Raith box but the Pars sub`s shot to the near post was kept out by Rae.

East End Park did not have to wait long for Dunfermline to score. A driving run from Chilokoa-Mullen took him into the left of midfield. Fraser was the only option and the former Rangers player used his speed to accelerate between two opponents and cross for KANE at the far post. Rae could not hold the ball and it went back off the Pars striker and into the net. The striker`s first league goal of the season made it 2-0.

The home side had the ball in the net again in 84 minutes when a Todd cross was chested down by Kane and Tod sunk the ball past Rae. The offside flag was raised in a tight decision. In the end it did not matter, the Pars saw out the game to collect the three points.

DUNFERMLINE: Billy Terrell: Shea Kearney (Kane Ritchie-Hosler 88), Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Nurudeen Abdulai, Robbie Fraser: Rory Macleod (Ewan Otoo 60), Charlie Gilmour, Chris Hamilton (c)(Alfons Amade 88), Keith Bray (Matty Todd 69): Barney Stewart (Chris Kane 69), Andrew Tod
SUBS NOT USED: John Tod, Lucas Fyfe, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Mason Munn (GK)
SCORERS: Stewart (19), Kane (79)
YELLOW CARDS: Macleod (27), Abdulai (48), Hamilton (64), Gilmour (90+1)

RAITH ROVERS: Josh Rae: Jai Rowe (Josh Mullin 75), Paul Hanlon, Darragh O`Connor, Lewis Stevenson: Ross Matthews (Paul McMullan 65), Scott Brown (c), Shaun Byrne, Jordan Doherty, Dylan Easton, Jack Hamilton (Callum Smith 75)
SUBS NOT USED: Ewan Wilson, Callum Fordyce, Kai Montagu, Josh Gentles, Paul Nsio, Aidan Glavin (GK).
YELLOW CARDS: Brown (44), Matthews (61), O`Connor (64)

REFEREE: Nick Walsh
ATTENDANCE: 6753 (inc 1236 away fans)
WEATHER: Fine 11°C

NEXT MATCH: (away) William Hill Championship v Airdrieonians, Tuesday 21st October, kick off 7.45pm at the Albert Bartlett Stadium


Highlights | Dunfermline 2 Raith Rovers 0



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